Knowledge of the energy flux in a sputter deposition system is important for predicting and controlling the properties of the growing film. The use of discrete sensors such as thermocouples for heat measurement has a potential contact problem due to the temperature jump between the surface of the wall and the surrounding gas especially at very low pressures. Embedded sensors such as a microfabricated polysilicon thin film thermistor eliminates the problem associated with thermal connection. In this study, the fabricated sensor is calibrated using ohmic self-heating before the deposition plasma is switched on, and also after the plasma is switched off (passive mode). At low pressures (up to 20 mTorr), pressure has an insignificant effect on the thermal resistance of the sensor. For substrate temperatures up to 250 °C, the sensor response is linear with input power. For a 3 in magnetron system, values of steady state energy flux measured with the sensor range from 5 to for aluminum (Al) and 14 to for copper (Cu) depending on the process conditions. These values compare well with those determined theoretically. Magnetron power was varied between 75 and 300 W, gas pressure 5–10 mTorr, and substrate–target distance 10.8–21 cm.
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July 2004
Papers from the 50th International AVS Symposium and Exhibition
2-7 November 2003
Baltimore, Maryland (USA)
Research Article|
July 20 2004
Measurement of energy flux at the substrate in a magnetron sputter system using an integrated sensor
Samuel D. Ekpe;
Samuel D. Ekpe
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2V4, Canada
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Steven K. Dew
Steven K. Dew
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2V4, Canada
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J. Vac. Sci. Technol. A 22, 1420–1424 (2004)
Article history
Received:
October 17 2003
Accepted:
January 05 2004
Citation
Samuel D. Ekpe, Steven K. Dew; Measurement of energy flux at the substrate in a magnetron sputter system using an integrated sensor. J. Vac. Sci. Technol. A 1 July 2004; 22 (4): 1420–1424. https://doi.org/10.1116/1.1705640
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